Originally Posted by
ericlikewhoa
is a properly fitting frame that important. dang...i finally find a bike for cheap..well in this case free..with horizontal drops and it ends up being tooo big. how do i roughly tell a frame is appropriate for me? meaning how could i quickly judge the size without calculating and figuring the measurements. i'm i supposed to be able to comfortably stand up and clear the toptube?
so i see that there are posts, so can i just sand them down?
Fit is important if you're gonna ride it. Just gonna pose with it and lock it outside the coffee shop? Then get it and be happy. Free isn't cheap enough if it doesn't fit.
Standover is a quick and dirt way to tell if a bike fits, but isn't the only factor. There is also "reach", which is a factor of the top tube length and seat to handlebar drop (also dependent on your flexibility and preferred riding position).
As for the posts, you're better to cut them or grind them off and use sanding to finish the job.
Chris